PEACE CHIMES 2015 MAY

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1 PEACE CHIMES 2015 MAY Prince of Peace Lutheran Church & St. Mark s Episcopal Church 209 Eastern Avenue, Augusta, Maine Telephone PRINCE OF PEACE MAY 17TH 11:00 AM Please mark your calendar and plan to attend! More info on agenda items on Page 6. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Page: 2-Thoughts from Pastor Erik, 3-Silence & Reverence, 4-Senior Moments, VBS in August, 5-What s the Noise?, Graduations, Stained Glass Window Ideas, 6- Annual Meeting Agenda Items, Spring Clean-up Day, Dortcas Circle, 7-POP Quilters Update, Happy Mothers Day, 8-Thanks for the Retreat! 9-Upcoming Calderwood Consort, 10-May Birthdays, Anniversaries, Servants for the month of May, 11-Leadership, Ministries of the Church, Contact Info, 12-May Calendar of Events.

2 In the book of Acts, there is the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. In this story Philip is visited by an angel and told to get up and go and Philip went! On the scary, wilderness road Philip was asked to travel, he came across this man in his chariot. We might not realize this from our vantage point, but the man in the chariot was as absolutely, completely, totally different from Philip as one man could be from another. Different in race, class, country, career, status, education and of course, different in that eunuch department. Any one of those things would have normally and without even a second thought, kept the two apart from one another. Any one of those things would have normally, either actively or passively, made it perfectly acceptable for one of them ignore, shun, devalue or dismiss the other... but it didn t. Both had deeply ingrained, long accepted, culturally learned reasons to pass the other by, but they didn t. Instead, the Ethiopian invited Philip to sit BESIDE him and teach him and Philip got into the chariot and sat BESIDE him and talked to him about Jesus. I emphasize the BESIDE part because what both men did was to put aside the differences both their cultures, status and histories said should place one of them above the other and instead treated one another as complete equals. They took time to be with one another. They took time to sit together. They took time to fully listen and neither assumed that what they had experienced and understood and been taught from their separate pasts must necessarily continue to be the way things would be experienced or understood now. They let go of all of who they had been, and opened themselves fully to one another. In that opening they risked creating, God was present. What are the deeply ingrained, long accepted, culturally learned reasons we might knowingly or even unconsciously use as a reason to pass another person by? Do we knowingly or unconsciously allow race, class, status, familiarity, ability or something else keep us apart from someone else? What is the reason that we sit with one person at coffee hour at church, or on a bus or in the pews and not sit down with someone else? What truth, wisdom or insight might be opened to us if we took the risk and set aside all of our experiences and notions from the past, took the chance and invited that very, very, very different person NOT to pass by, but to come and sit BESIDE us for a little while? This story and all of scripture encourages us to take the chance! Invite someone new to sit with you at coffee hour this week! Ask someone from the other church to tell you a story of where they have visited or the time they felt the most alive. What has separated us from one another in the past, it turns out, is nothing compared to what unites us now in Christ s love, so, as the angel said to Philip, Get up and go! Rev. Erik Karas Priest in Charge - St. Mark's Episcopal Church Transitional Pastor - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

3 THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE, LET ALL THE EARTH KEEP SILENCE BEFORE HIM Growing up in a Swedish Lutheran tradition, I can remember the choir singing these words about the need for silence in the presence of the Lord (Habakkuk 2:20). What an awe-filled command! But these days we are seldom comfortable with silence even in worship. We wonder if our ministers have lost their place. We have become so accustomed to background noise that times of quiet and especially of silence are unsettling. Here at our church we have tried to designate times for silence or quiet at these points in the service of worship: 1 st at the beginning of the service, the pastor welcomes us to the service and then urges us to prepare ourselves quietly to worship God in our hearts and minds and with our bodies while the organist plays the prelude. 2 nd before the public confession of sins, we pause to reflect quietly on what each of us has done or left undone sins against both God and neighbor. 3 rd after the sermon, we have a moment of silence to reflect on the Word of God that we have heard in the readings of Scripture as well as in the pastor s sermon. 4 th there is another opportunity for silence after we have received the Lord s Supper so that we might quietly give thanks for the gracious gift of his life-giving Body and Blood. 5 th the service concludes with the benediction and a final opportunity during the organ postlude to consider quietly how we should go in peace and serve the Lord. While it is true that the Psalmist calls us to make a joyful noise to the Lord, to worship him with gladness, and to come into his presence with singing (Psalm 100:1), it is also true that the Prophet reminds us: The Lord is in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before him (Hab. 2:20). Both truths are necessary for worship to include joyful voices, quiet minds, and faithful hearts. Joyce Bagnall, Worship Committee 3

4 St. Mark S EpiScopal church Senior moments Well, last month I talked about my socks, this month I m going to talk about my Red Sox! I am a fan, through thick or thin. From the first pitch to the last out of the season, I am there. Tom refers to himself as a baseball widower, but I remind him that it takes nine guys to replace him! I have had the privilege of seeing three World Series victories by Boston in my lifetime, as well as the many losing seasons-the Sox either take you to extreme heights or break your heart. Yesterday saw a 7-18 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, but today is a new game. Again, what does this have to do with church? I think that feeling part of something is important. Whether it s being a member of Red Sox Nation or St. Mark s, being part of something larger than ourselves is important. Whether it s talking with other Boston fans or worshiping with fellow Episcopalians, feeling that connection is what gives meaning to our lives. As we plan for the future, keeping that connection is important to me. Today is a new game, regardless of last night s score. To quote Yogi Berra (even though he is a Yankee) When you come to a fork in the road-take it! Don t forget to take a look at the volunteer opportunities listed on newsprint in the room where we have coffee. These events will happen if those willing to lead or help sign up. Also, please remember that offerings to St. Mark s which are not part of your pledge need to be identified as to their purpose so that you receive credit for your gift. Checks for St. Mark s need to be made payable to St. Mark s; any cash intended for St. Mark s general use needs to be identified so that our counters know your intent. Upcoming events: St. Mark s Vestry meeting on May 10 th after service. Tina Barden, Senior Warden, St Mark s Episcopal Church SAVE THE DATES: WEEK OF AUGUST 3-7, 2015 Once again a team from Camp Calumet will be with us to provide an exciting program. Watch for more info coming soon!

5 What s that noise? Hearing noises during the Eucharist? You re likely hearing the ringing of the Sanctus bell (gong) as we move through the prayer of consecration. The Sanctus is derived from the Latin term for holy, and is sung as praise to God the Holy One. This is something familiar to both Lutherans and Episcopalians. In the fifteenth century bells were added to the Eucharistic celebration beginning with the singing of the Sanctus and continuing through the elevation of the elements the bread and the wine and at the end of the Eucharistic prayer with the great Amen. The bells or gong are traditionally rung three times at each of these intervals. The ringing of the bells was through to signal that something important was happening and people should pay attention. The St. Mark s gong made its way over to Prince of Peace during the January transition and has been heard periodically during the Eucharist. The gong and clapper, located near the Credence table to the right of the altar, are available to try just stop by and strike the gong with the clapper and you ll hear a rich tone that gradually fades away. Here are some pictures of the types of bells or gongs one might find in an Episcopal Church: Tom Barden is particularly skilled in striking the gong. Ask him to show you how to get the best sound from the gong. Peace, Rebecca Grant Anyone who would like the graduation of a family member announced in the June Newsletter, please send Patti their name, relationship to you, the school and their degree info. Graduates names will appear as Celebrations in the June Peace Chimes. Thank you! Stained Glass Window Ideas We are still looking for creative ways that we might be able to display the stained glass panels that are now in the Sanctuary. Our new windows will be installed soon so any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Please speak to Becky Pearce about it. Thank you! 5

6 Prince of Peace Annual Meeting A partial list of agenda items to be considered at the Annual Meeting are: *Election of Council members *Election of Endowment Fund Committee members *Election of Nominating Committee members * Consideration and 1 st vote on Constitutional Amendments *Call Process Update Any voting member is welcome to bring up any issue for consideration at the Annual Meeting. See you at the meeting on May 17th in the Sanctuary 11:00 AM. CHURCH SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY May 9th - 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Come one come all to help with spring clean-up! Many hands make for light work. We have chosen the date of May 9 th from 9 AM-12 PM. If you can t stay the whole time please come for as long as you can. We ll be cleaning inside and out so there will be plenty for everyone. One chore will be to take down and clean the stained glass for the repurposing project. So bring your rakes and cleaning paraphernalia and join us in preparing the property for summer (yes, it is coming)! We ll have a rain date of May 16 th at the same time. Becky Pearce, Property Committee DORCAS CIRCLE The Dorcas Circle meets on the first Tuesday morning of the month, September through June. We meet at 9:30 a.m. at church for conversation and a Bible study around a theme provided by the church s women s magazine Gather. All women of the church Prince of Peace and St. Mark are invited to join us. 6

7 Three Cheers for Our Quilters!!! Did you know that the fabric you donated to our quilting group may keep someone warm in Nepal? Did you know that the needle and thread you held recently may make someone smile because you helped make a quilt? The quilting group met this pasttuesday to pack up 29 quilts to send to Lutheran World Relief. Lutheran World Relief has an office in Katmandu and supplies will be sent from there to people in need in that area. Special thanks to the ladies who faithfully came (weather permitting) to put these quilts together: Gail Perry, Anita Wyman, Dorothy Mueller, Tina Mann, Ellen Beals and Lil Stresser. May 10th Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:31 7

8 THE CALDERWOOD CONSORT Presents Invention in Early Music At Prince of Peace Lutheran Church & St. Mark s Episcopal Church Friday, May 22nd, :00 PM Admission is $10:00 This program of early music traces in loose chronology the inventions and changes from sacred chant to polyphonic motets; from secular single line folk tunes and love songs of Germany, France, Italy and Spain to the chansons of the Burgundian Court; from a medieval dance for organ to printed dance music of the Renaissance and from an Italian love song to Petrarch s poem to English music of the Tudor Court. The CALDERWOOD CONSORT has been performing early music throughout Maine since the mid-seventies. They ve appeared at the University of Maine, Farmington and Orono campuses; Unity, Bowdoin and Bates Colleges and many churches in Portland and the Mid-Coast. They ve appeard in concert with the Boston Camerata and choral groups throughout Maine. Members of CALDERWOOD have included musicians with music degrees from Oxford University, the Royal Academy of Music, London and Bates College, as well as early music groups in Cincinnati and St. Louis. All programs include program notes and text translations and are performed in costume on replica period instruments. For more information please call: Edwin Douglas at or Linda Johnston at

9 THANK YOU PRINCE OF PEACE FOR THE GIFT OF ATTENDING THIS SPECIAL RETREAT AGAIN THIS YEAR! Had a wonderful time with these fantastic ladies plus musician John and leader Knute! The retreat was filled with a good mix of training, singing, prayer, laughter, walking and hiking, and of course the amazing meals and welcoming staff at Calumet!! So good to reconnect each year with others that do similar jobs and ministries. There was lots of love and much support and encouragement shared. It was a blessed time! Came home feeling renewed and refreshed! Grateful!!! Patti Gardiner, Church Office Maine delegation: Jolene -First Lutheran in Portland, Lillian St. Andrews, Ellsworth, Nancy- Redeemer, Bangor, Patti-Prince of Peace & St. Mark s, Augusta

10 MAY SERVANTS DEACONS: MAY BIRTHDAYS 2 Darryl Praul 5 Jane Peterson, Jonah Waterman 8 Mindy Jorgensen 16 Irene Rice 21 Nancy Bell 28 Pat Havey 29 Donna Cook 3 Lloyd Balderston/Rebecca Grant 10 Paul Rhoda/Rebecca Grant 17 Tom Benn/Rebecca Grant 24 Myrna Duplessie/Rebecca Grant 31 Nancy Merrill/ Rebecca Grant LECTORS: 3 1st-Bev Savage, 2nd-Tina Barden 10 1st-Joseph Riddick, 2nd-Jean Wright 17 1st-Dan Stevens, 2nd-Bobbi-Jo Burdin 24 1st-Willi Hartung, 2nd-Don Sproul 31 1st-Tom Barden, 2nd-Joyce Bagnall USHERS: 3 Roland Pease/ Dan Dawe 10 Lloyd & Betty Balderston 17 Paul & Joanie Rhoda 24 Becky Pearce/ Bud Walters 31 Walter & Linda Lowell ALTAR CARE: 3 Linda Lowell/Cindy Gyorgy 10 Becky Pearce/Beth Pfeffer 17 Joseph Riddick/Mary Dube 24 Dan Stevens/Myrna Duplessie 31 Linda Ames/Joyce Bagnall OFFERING COUNTERS: 3 Bill Burgess/Bud Walters 10 Beth Pfeffer/Doug Burdin 17 Darryl Praul/ Myrna Duplessie 24 Willi Hartung/Gene Kaler 31 Bill Burgess/Bud Walters COFFEE HOUR HOSTS: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 8 Pastor Erik & Kelly Karas 13 Alice VanDerwerken & David Sprague 14 Bill & Jane Peterson 18 Betty & Lloyd Balderston 3 Nancy Finnegan, Jim Melcher, Rebecca Grant, Connie McDonald, Bobbi-Jo Burdin, Erika Praul 10 Betsy Esancy, Vin Tschamler, Mary Dube, Barbara Shockley, Myrna Duplessie, Pat Havey, Don Sproul 17 Nancy Bell, Kathy Tracy, Emmy Warming, Cindy Gyorgy, Patricia Welch-Force 24 Tina & Tom Barden, Joan Lane, Linda Ames, Liz Burgess 31 Nancy Finnegan, Jim Melcher, Rebecca Grant, Connie McDonald, Carlene Kaler, Melani McGuire 10

11 Worship with us! 9:00 AM DEACONS Lloyd Balderston Tom Benn Myrna Duplessie The Reverend Rebecca Grant Nancy Merrill, Head Deacon Paul Rhoda Duane Scott (on sabbatical) PRINCE OF PEACE COUNCIL President - Don Sproul Vice President - Bobbi-Jo Burdin Secretary - Ave Cheprevich Financial Secretary - Darryl Praul Congregational Life - LouAnne Story Learning - Beth Pfeffer Property - Becky Pearce Service - Bev Savage Witness - Tom Benn Worship - Heidi Joslyn Trustees: Don Sproul-Chair, Tom Benn, Bobbi-Jo Burdin, Ave Chuprevich, Beth Pfeffer CHURCH STAFF Pastor - Erik Karas Parish Secretary - Patti Gardiner Cell Organist - Alice VanDerwerken Choir Director - Alice VanDerwerken Sexton - Al Cook Nominating Committee: Bobbi-Jo Burdin, Liz Burgess, Ave Chuprevich, Myrna Duplessie, Paul Rhoda Endowment Fund Committee: Bill Burgess, Darryl ST. MARK S VESTRY Senior Warden - Tina Barden Junior Warden - Connie McDonald Treasurer - Lynn Allerding Clerk of the Vestry - Nancy Finnegan Vestry Members: Steven Graham , Gary Mann , Liz Praul , Sue Smith, Dan Stevens REACHING OUT MINISTRIES Women s Prayer Breakfast - Nancy Merrill At Your Side Committee - Liz Burgess Helping Fund - Patti Gardiner - POP Office POP Quilter s Group - Lil Stresser Women of the Church-ELCA Carlene Kaler Dorcas Circle - Jutta Hartung Bread of Life Ministries - Office-Wendy *Soup Kitchen on Water St *Shelter on Hospital St Augusta Food Bank Chelsea Food Bank - Diane Richard Addie s Attic - Christina Mitchell Everyday Basic Essentials - Nancy Finnegan

12 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :00-12:30 SG DR 8:30-10:00AM 3 5th Easter 7:30 Choir Rehearsal 9:00 Worship Coffee Hour 10:30 Adult Study 4:00 Mustard Seeds for all ages 4 9:00 AM 5 7:00 AM WPB 9:30 Dorcas Circle 10:00 AM Book Study 6 PM FA - TR 5:00-8:30 PM 6 5:30-7:15 PM Girl Scouts (CCR) 7 1:00-2:30 FA- TR 8 11:00 2:00 SG - DR 9 8:30 10:00 AM 10 6th Easter HAPPY MOTHER S DAY!!! 7:30 Choir Rehearsal 9:00 Worship Coffee Hour 10:30 Adult Study *St. Mark s Vestry 11 9:00 AM 5:30 PM POP Council 12 7:00 AM WPB 9:00 AM POP Quilters 10:00 AM Book Study 6 PM FA - TR 5:00-8:30 PM 13 5:30-7:15 PM Girl Scouts (CCR) 6:00-8:00 PM Veterans SG-TR 14 Ascension of Our Lord 1:00-2:30 FA- CCR 15 11:00-12:30 SG - DR 16 8:30-10:00 AM 17 7th Easter 7:30 Choir Rehearsal 9:00 Worship Coffee Hour 10:30 Adult Study 11:00 POP Annual Meeting 4:00 PM Mustard Seeds for all ages 18 9:00 AM 19 7:00 AM WPB 10:00 AM Book Study 6 PM FA - TR 5: PM 20 5:30-7:15 PM Girl Scouts (CCR) 21 1:00-2:30 FA- CCR 22 7:00 PM Calderwood Concort in Sanctuary 23 8:30-10:00 AM 24 Day of Pentecost 7:30 Choir Rehearsal 9:00 Worship Coffee Hour 10:30 Adult Study *Deacons 11:30 *Altar Care Training 4 PM Mustard Seeds 25 Memorial Day Office Closed 9:00 AM 26 7:00 AM WPB 9:00 AM POP Quilters 10:00 AM Book Study 6 PM FA - TR 5:00-8:30 PM 27 Dan Hewins Memorial Service & Reception 5:30-7:15 PM Girl Scouts 28 1:00-2:30 FA- CCR 29 11:00-12:30 SG - DR 30 8:30-10:00 AM Multi-Faith Day of Service 9AM Noon 31 The Holy Trinity 9:00 Worship, Coffee Hour, 12:00-4:00 PM Hospice Memorial Service in Sanctuary/CCR 4:00 PM Mustard Seeds Program